Article carrier



Dec. 4, 1956 E. L. ARNESON ARTICLE CARRIER Filed Feb. 20, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 nalhxllil H INV ENTOR.

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Arneson, Morris, Ill., assignor, by mesneassign g ments, ,to Federal Paper Board Company, Inc., Bogota,

l f-swam!!! "f r Y k. l 1 Application February 210, 1952, SerialNo. 272,623

Sq awgen-mama' .The, presentinvention relates'to improvements in a flexiblepaperboard carrier for. bottles and related articles of:uniform.size andshape.v I: r f i :More particularly, it. is. an object of lthe invention. to provide an improved carrier of this sort having avery strong, rigid suspending handle and structure, aswell as improvedmeansifor .theprotection of bottles loaded therein ag'ainstimpact damage 'or destruetivecontact with one anotheraf; ,3 Z g T. 1

fi-It; is another -and morespecific object of theinvention to provide a flexible paperboard carrier, here illustrated as acarrier of three-bottle capacity, which carrier features acnovel 'crossl'partition or divider unitintegrally hinged torthe top margin of a side wall .ofthe' carrier, this unit. including improved means providing a suspending grip at thatiwall; and at the same time reinforcing 'the latterin.

a noveland improved fashion.

":Still more; specifically, it is an object toprovide such a paperboard carrier, characterized by side 'and 1 end walls, a bottom, and a cross partition definingand handle reinrier bottomhav'ingnovel end flaps adapted to engage and brace the cross partition elements against lateral collapse while articles are being inserted into cells defined by the elements.

Kilt: is a-general object of the invention to provide an improved'carrier having the foregoing attributes, and a flexible paperboard blank for manufacturing the same, in which the blank is of minimum size in relation to the size and strength of the completed carrier.

The foregoing statements are indicativein a general way of the nature of the invention. Other and more specific objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of the contruction and operation of the device.

.A single embodiment of the invention is presented hereinfor purpose of illustration. It will be appreciated that the-invention may be incorporated in other modified forms coming equally Within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an improved flexiblepaperboardblank employed in the fabrication of the improved carrier, showing the application of a preparatory coating of adhesive to certain areas thereof;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the blank following an initial manipulation thereof, also indicating the application of afurther coating of adhesive prior to a succeeding operation;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the blank following the succeeding operation referred to above;

Fig. 4 is atop plan viewof the blank following still further folding and gluing succeeding operations;

Fig. 5 isaplan view of the blank in its or knocked-down condition;

I l i I: 11

Fig. 6 is a -top plan view ofithe carrier in erected,

article receiving condition; illustrating .certaindetails of the wall reinforcing and partition defining unit, as; well as-the bracing relationship of certain 'flapson the. carrier bottom-to the partitions of that unityandl j 2W7.

Figs; 7 and 8 are, respectively, views in longitudinal and transverse vertical section, along lines corresponding approximately to lines --7.-7 (and 88 'of Fig.'6, these views indicatingin dotted and solid lines the action of partitions when thecarrier is erectedq' the bottom end flaps in bracing the laterally collapsible- Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the improvedcar i rier is fabricated from a:flexible'paperboardblank 10 of halves, The bottom has end flaps 17. integrally hin ed bycreases 15 to its opposite ends. Flaps 17 carry hori zontally aligned medial creases 19 and elongated slots 20' whichjare also aligned with the bottom crease 16, the

creases 19 and slots 20 subdividing the respective fl'aps 17? into twohalves of which one, designated 17','has a hooklike configuration at 2 1. i

A second side wall panel verse alignment with the. side wall end creases .13, 18,

serve to hinge to the. opposite margin .-of-the wall panel 22 a pair oflikeendrwall forming panels 24, and these" panels in turn have gluelap panels 25 integrally hinged thereto by the creases 2.6. Spaced horizontal s'lits 27, in

longitudinal alignment with the'bottom definingwcrea se 22', separate the end wall panels 24 'from the end flap sections 17' on the bottoms'ection form crease. Horizontal slits 28, aligned with the crease 15, separate the end wall panel 12 of the wall '11 from the remainder'iof the flaps 17; Similarly,i.horizontally aligned, outwardly opening slots 29 separate the glue flaps 25 from bottom end flaps. 17. The outer ends of the respective slits :27, 28 are hooked somewhat in opposite directions,-fojr 'a'g purpose to be described. I

A handle'reinforcing and cross partition defining unit 30 is integrally hinged by means of a horizontal erease 31,.to the upper margin of the side wall panel '22. Unit 30includes a grip element or section 32 of invertedT shaped outline, which immediately adjoins crease31, and

this panel and the side wall 22are each providedwith a U-shaped slit 33 whose termini are connected by a crease 34, thereby to define a hand'hole flap 35 which is deflectable from the plane of the carrier is completed. e

central zone of the latter.

rnents 39 by means of a crease 42. i

The panels 41 are each provided \vih an'integr al inner,

T-shaped extension 43, 'the latter being integrally connected by short creases to the oppositelateralentre rrii ties of the handle reinforcing member 32. Extensions 43" a Fat at P $4 5 22 generally rectangular outline, is integrally hinged 1051116 ,bottom.14;by.means. of ahorizontal crease 22f. Parallelqcreases23 in trans-F the handle side wall 22 when ate in part defined by died out recesses 43 opening aterally outwardly of the. blank and adapted to. coincide.

outline a partition stifiening tongue 46 for increasing the thickness of the partition. 'The tongue is hendably'connected b.yhinge crease 40- to partition element 37.

Incompleti-ng the carrier from the blank illustrated in Fig. 1, adhesive is firstapplied to the two tabs 46 excised from the material of panels 39, as indicated by stippling, whereupon those panels and tabs, together with the wall reinforcing panels 4l-and extensions'43, are bodily folded upwardly, inwardly and downwardly about the creases 40,44, respectively, causing the tabs 46' to be adhesively secured to the adjoining panels 37, as shown in Fig. 2. Further adhesiveis nowapplied to the upwardly exposed surface of panels 41 and extensions 43, as indicated by stipplin'gin Fig. 2 of the drawings, after which the entire cross partitionand handle reinforcing unit 30 is folded upwardly, inwardly and downwardly about crease 31 with the result that this unit is adhesively secured to the side wall 22, as illustrated in- Fig. 3 of the drawings.

Following this, end wall bracing flaps 17 are folded about their cre ased connections 18 to the bttom'14, and the glue flaps 25 are folded upwardly, inwardly and downwardly about the respective creases 26 leaving the blank in the condition illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Adhesive is nowapplied to the upwardly exposed surfaces of flaps 25 and to the intermediate panel 36 of cross. partition and wall reinforcing unit 30, as indicated by:- stippling in Fig. 4. The side wall panel 11 and adjoining sect ion of bottom 1'4 are nowfolded upwardly, inwardly and downwardly about the medial bottom crease 16, with the result that a central area of the side Wall 1'1 is secured to the intermediate partition unit panel 36' and the two. end wall defining panels 12 are secured to the two adhesively coated flaps 25.

The completedcarrier is illustrated in Fig. 5 in collapsedv or knocked-down condition. In order toerect the same: to the operative condition illustrated in Figs. 6, 7 and 8; compressive. pressure isv applied to the opposite ends; oi the blank, represented by the creases 26,. with the assistance of some slight spreading pressure applied to the Opposite.- side wall panels 11, 22. This causes the carrier to approach a rectangular condition, the cross partititon constituted bythe panels. 39, 37, and reinforcing tabs 46 adhesively secured to the latter, at the same approaching a. position in which it is in approximate 90 relat on to e pp ed side l- In this condition the. bottom end. flaps 17 are disposed in immediately overlying relation to the bottom section 151; and have approached, butnot quite arrived at, a. flat horizontal planar condition with the latter. These flaps a now be manual y shifted pwa y, as y the insertion oi a suitable instrument through theslots 20 therein, past the horizontal condition shown in dotted line in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. The oppositely curved. termini of the qr n t e-s s. of; slit 1. .8;. which. fr h p- 17 from end walipanels W 24 of; the blank; (seeFig. 1) result in a greater widthof; the flaps at; their outer ends. Hence iii-the swinging of =theflaps;upwardly asidescribed the side edges of these enlarged egrtremities wipev past side walls 11 22 a d tend to urge, the same. outwardly. This in tur ,n promotes il exure ofthe flaps. about their medial creases 1 9, towards} an, inverted V sectional outline. As the. flaps 17 are so elevated, their inner edges wipe upwardly past the bottom marginoi the cross partitions and, fi PQ 1 a. uly p anar posi on. b c le p a ab 19- assumegthe inverted V outline.re-. nner; ma i in edge n a adiasaeot; he ower.- margin. of the.

. 4 latter, as indicated in solid lines in Figs. 6, 7 and 8. The book formations 21 of the flap sections 17 remain be neath the cross partitions atrthe portion of the latter adjacent the side wall 22, thus restraining the flaps from further upward movement past the desired partitionbracing position. The flaps thus hold the partitions temporarily in position for filling of the carrier by an automatic bottle loading machine. As bottles are gravitai by the presence of the adhesively secured intermediate panel 36 of the cross partition'structure or unit 30, while the rear panel 22 is correspondingly stiffened by the handle reinforcing member 32, and by the reinforcing flaps or elements 41 and their extensions 43. which lie in adhesively secured, side-byrside relation to. wall 22. The. bottles are also well protected by double thickness ofi stock at the cross partitions, represented by the adhesively secured panel .37 and glue tabs 46.

I claim;

1. A'collapsible paperboard article carrier formed from a. ,onezpiece: blank and comprising opposed sidewalls, a bottom extending therebetween and hinged to the. lower marginsthereof, said bottom being subdivided into a. pair of sections by: a medial crease about which the bottom is.

' verticallycollapsible to. bring said wallsv into coplanar,

facerto-face. relation, .end flaps integrally hinged to 0p posite ends. ofi said'bottomand having medial creases corresponding with the. crease in the bottom, and a cross partititon unit hinged to one. of said side. walls. along a.

top horizontal margin thereof, said cross partition unit ncluding. a plurality of panel integrally hinged to. one another, one-of said panels being. secured: in face-tmfacerelationto the-opposite side. wall, other of saiddpanelsv constituting cross; partitions. adapted to extendv between said. sidewalls when. the. carrier is erected and being collopsiblef upon themselves. about. medial vertical creases, and. terminal panels integrally hinged to said collapsible, panels and secured in. tace-to-face relation. to said side wall to. which said cross partition unit is. hinged, said. bottom: end. flaps. having notches. in their inner edges. and. being; swung upwardly: about their hinged connection. to said bottom when said carrier is in erected condition. to. bring the inner edges. thereof into engagement with. said cross; partitions with the bottom edges; of the. latter end gaged, in said notches to brace the cross: partitions; lateral y:

2. A collapsible, paperboard. article carrier formed froma one:pie ce1blanl and comprising, opposed side walls, a t om. extending: herehetween. and hinged. to the lower ma gin th rfi fs Said bo om. bcing'subdivided; into. a pair oi. ect-ions; by a media1 crease about which the bottom is; downwardly collapsible to bring said side. walls; into Q07 7 P1311313. le a oac ela n, n nd fl ps. n g y hinged to. opposite ends ofsaidbottoin, anda cross parti? tiorr unit hingedto one. of said side walls along a top. horizontal; marginthereo f, saidcrossv partition; unit in,- cluding a plurality of panels integrally hinged-to one another, oneof said. panels being secured in face-to-tace relationto. the otherwall, adjoining panels, constituting: cross partitions adapted; to extend between said side walls when the c arrier is erected and being collapsible uponthemselves about medial vertical creases, and terminal panels integrally hinged tosaid collapsible panels and secured in, face-trxface. relation to, said wall. to, which said cross partition unit is hinged, said bottom endflaps being; provided with medial. creases. about which they arecollapsible to position said crosspartition panels. between; said collapsed-bottom section, said bottom end; flapsrhaving notchhs. intheir-inner edges: intermediate the sideed'ges thereof: andbeing: swung upwardly aboutstheirhingethconnection to said bottom when; saidcarrier is in erected 4 condition to bring the bottom portions of said cross partitions into said notches to brace the same laterally.

3. A collapsible paperboard article carrier fabricated from a one-piece blank and comprising, in erected condition thereof, a pair of opposed side wall panels, a bottom hinged to the lower margins of said side wall panels and medially creased longitudinally to subdivide the same into sections adapted for outward and downward collapsing movement relative to said side wall panels, infolded end flaps integrally hinged by transverse creases to opposite end margins of said bottom and medially creased in alignment with the medial bottom crease for collapsing movement downwardly along with said bottom, said flaps lying between said bottom sections when collapsed, end walls hinged to opposite ends of said side wall panels, said end walls being medially creased for outward collapsing movement, and a cross partition structure integrally connected to a top horizontal margin of one of said side wall panels, said cross partition structure including cross partition forming panels hingedly connected to each other and extending with the lower edges thereof between said side walls in spaced relation above said bottom when in erected condition, said cross partition panels being creased for outward collapse toward the end walls, said bottom end flaps overlying said bottom sections and being swung upwardly about their hinged connection with said bottom, when said carrier is in erected position, and into engagement with said respective cross partition forming panels, the inner edge of each of said bottom end flaps having a recessed formation providing a portion which engages beneath the bottom edge of said cross partition forming panels to limit said upward swinging thereof and another portion which engages edgewise' with the outer faces of said 'cross partition forming panels :thereby to brace the latter against outward collapse about the creases thereof.

4. In a collapsible article carrier formed 'from flexible paperboard material and having parallel upstanding panels defining opposite side wallsof an article receiving space, a foldable cross partition structure extending transelement integrally hinged along a vertical crease to said first panel element, and a third panel element integrally hinged by a vertical crease to said second panel element and joined along a vertical crease in hinged relation to the other of said upstanding side wall panels, and a protective reinforcing flap element cut from the material of said third panel element, said reinforcing flap element be ing folded about the connecting crease line with said second panel element and being secured in flatwise faceto-face relation to said second panel element.

5. In a collapsible article carrier formed of flexible paperboard material and having parallel upstanding panels defining opposite sidewalls of an article receiving space, a foldable cross partition structure extending transversely between said side wall panels and subdividing.

vertical crease in hinged relation to the other of said upstanding side wall panels, said cross panel elements being foldable upon each other about their connecting vertical crease upon collapse of the carrier, and a protective reinforcing flap element of substantial width and height cut from the material of one of said cross panel elements and folded over about the connecting vertical crease between said cross panel elements and secured in flatwise face-toface relation to the adjoining cross panel element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 901,858 Williams Oct. 20, 1908 2,069,997 Carr Feb. 9, 1937 2,302,676 Crane Nov. 24, 1942 2,390,020 Wesselman Nov. 27, 1942 2,458,281 -Lupton Jan. 4, 1949 2,460,108 Smith et al. Jan. 2 5, 1949 2,525,686 Kowal Oct. '10, 1950 2,537,615 Arneson J-an. 9, 1951 2,594,377 Arneson Apr. 29, 1951 2,556,341 Ringler June 12, 1951 Casler Nov. 20, 1951 

